Selector



L. F.' REINHOLD ETIAL,

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SELECTOR Filed Jan. 24, r1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 @l Hmm new um@ a... CDW. www www a WMMR A @ff Mom M MY 3Q, 3946. LF. Rami-:OLD ET AL. l @Ail SELECTOR Filed Jan. 24, 1945 2 sheetsfsmt 2 Patented July 30, 1946 SELECTOR Leonhard F. Reinhold, Staten Island, N. Y., and James A. Spencer, Teaneck, N. J., assignors to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1945, Serial No. 574,288

Claims. 1

'Ihis invention relates to selectors and more particularly to a device for conditioning apparatus to be controlled from a remote point.

In the printing telegraph art, as Well as in the art relating to remotely controlled indicators, recorders and switching mechanisms, it is frequently required that a station selector be provided for conditioning the receiving apparatus to function in response to code signals. This is especially true where such apparatus is normally to be held in a standby condition which would relieve it from continuous operation until after reception of a selecting signal.

Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide a selector which may be suitable as a station selector in a telegraph system or in any application of remote control principles. to an indicator, a recorder or a switching mechanism.

It is another object of our invention to provide auxiliary equipment to be controlled by a code selecting receiver so that that receiver, although maintained normally in condition to respond vto code signals, shall require further conditioning in order to translate traffic code signals into intelli-gence.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a station selector which responds to the cyclic setting of an orientable shaft in different positions which are permutationally varied for different stations so that individual stations may be selected from a remote point.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a plurality of selectors each associated with one of a group of receivers in a telegraph system, and each selector having means for responding to a train of code signals individual to itself. A feature of our selector meetsI a certain requirement that any unwanted selectors which may respond to a given code combination of a series of code signals shall be tripped out of action upon receipt of a subsequent code combination. Thus only the one selector which is set to respond to a predetermined series of code combinations, step by step, will be conditioned for further functioning. The other selectors of the group will automatically drop out.

Our invention will now be described in more detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a system of cams and levers for producing selective responses to code signals and for producing an ultimate response by way of closing a circuit when the selecting function has been completed;

Fig. 2 shows the same structure as in Fig. 1 except that certain of the parts have been moved into operating positions;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary view of' the structure as in Figs. 1 and 2, where va further step of operation is indicated;

Fig. 4 shows an edgewise view of the mechanism indicated in the other figures, this figure being a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3; and

Fig. 5 shows in perspective a portion of the selecting cam and associated levers.

As a background of art to which this invention relates reference is made to our co-pending application Serial Number 485,186 which was filed April 30, 1943, now U. S. VPatent No. 2,375,828, patented May l5, 1945, covering a Printing telegraph receiver. In that application we described a typewheel printer having internally notched code rings which were arranged and adapted to be permutationally set in response to code signals for the purpose of orienting the printer typewheel. The typewheel shaft was caused to rotate to a printing position, the character was then printed, and the shaft was then rotated further to a homing position.

We now propose to utilize the principles of code signal selection as set forth in said co-pending application for the purpose of orienting a shaft I as shown in the drawings of the instant application. We also propose to utilize the srtucture, or its equivalent, as shown in said co-penlding application for cyclically rotating an operating` cam shaft 2, as shown in the drawings of the instant application. 'Ihe code responsive mechanism forms no part of the instant invention and is not,

I therefore, shown or described herein. It is sufficient to understand that, in response to code signals as received at any given station, the shaft I may be rotated into a selecting position where it is arrested momentarily, and that, preceding and following the cycle of selective orientation of the shaft I, the shaft 2 is rotated from a position of rest through one cycle and then stopped.

Any desired selecting function may be performed by the station selector as herein shown and described. The ultimate accomplishment of the selector may, for example, be the starting of a motor, or the tripping of a clutch, or the closing of a relay circuit.

Mounted on the shaft I are two discs 3, 4, each of which is formed with a digital projection, and two other discs 5 andi, each of which is formed with a single notch in its periphery. The digit and notch of two discs 3 and 5 respectively are correspondingly oriented. The same is true with respect to the digit and, notch of the discs 4 and 6 respectively. At diierent receiving stations in a given system the angular displacements of Athe digits with' respect to a reference point on the shaft I are varied so as to enable diierent call signals to be responded to by each station.

Another cam 1 is mounted on the shaft I and is usedfor restoring .the selectingmechanisnrto normal.

A pair of step-cut plates 8 and 9 is shown rotatably mounted on a shaft III. The two discs are fastened onto a hub II and arev urged into a homing position by means of a spring I2. An operating pawl I3 is associated with-the plate 8. A similar operating pawl y'I4-'is-.associated with the plate 9. Pawls I3 and ldh'aveheelpieces I5 and I6 respectively which are positioned for engagement with restoring; elevers. '..Each =,of.the pawls I3 and I4 is urged against the stepped face of its associated plate by means of a"sp"ring` I1. These pawls are also .pivotally mounted at the slower. ends; Ofmperatingx-flevers .I8zand I9.l respectively.`

'I'he"l .upperrportionsrofrievers il Banand .I 9-1 are somewhat :M5-shaped. `vThatzis toi-say, .they have extensions such as I8a andzflhth'e tfunctions of fwhichfwill fpresentlyf be.;-.clescribed. .Atf .the-iend :of extension' :I Sli-s.a:.downwardly1.extending'fmger I8c which'frides png the f-pe'riphery; ofzthe-rcam-'E -ands may f at :times drop into thernotchi` in; vthis cam. There issalsoe.aidownwardlyextending'1in- .fing Eig. ;'It.:;rides on thecameGfand-may:drop frinto @aranotch therein. The ilevers'lpand I9` are ,.=pivoted1.:onz;a XedfshaftlZll-fwhich Vis secured to uthe'iframe plates 5I.

'Thezshaftf 2: fhasfimounted thereon three' cams oraised :..portion fforfr controlling .I a. cam: follower. :These :cam followers: are fof vrollerformation. and

-are.;shownfrespectiv'ely: at7 positions.v 24 and.y 25.

"The .tworr'ollersi 25 `on the `upper iside of 'the shaft are=mounted respectively at 'fthe' left ends f( as viewed in"the"gures) of loperating leversV 2lil and 21 fea'chbhave r-fdownwardlyf-extending arms 26a andf-f21a,- andfthey' 'have 'horizontally extending arms "ending-in" fingersl26b vand 21h. The fingers 2617 and '2 1b are normally h'e'ldA `sliiliciently clear of" discs* 3' and' 4- so` that. theligits` on these 'discs mayfreely rotate. beneath'. them. 'The clearance `vi s,; however, closely adjusted by means ofY a.. 'stop member'28 which spansthe .space between 'the zframejplatesSI `and i'sheldby'th'ese platesin any desired, position of ...adjustment about its Vexcen- ...tric bearings 2.9.

@The rollersl 25...are urged. downwardly.: against the perpheries of, the cams.22 and 23 by virtue .of lthesspringctension ein. lsprings 3D which f.. are .xedlymounted at,.the lower. end Varid arehooked into=the,levers"26.and"21 respectively.

...A' holding, pawl.3I.Tis...pivota lly .mounted on a shaft.' 32..,and ,is urgedagainstY the. periphery, of `.th'e .plate.8.,]oy..meanssoff,aspring 33. On,.the .hub which carries, the pawl., 3 I is .a cylindrical member 34 which is .drled` to. receive .a-pushrod 35. At the right hand endof. .the push-.rod 35..is a crossepim36-which'is.engaged..in they slot :of :ai.-bel1....c1:ankf.31. Bell fcrank-31 is -pivotally .fmounted oniazstaff 38.1, and zits' rightV hand' extension carriesacamfollower roller-'39 which is po- .sitioned in-the sameA plane with,y andrides on, .ther periphery-.of cam 1. 1A-spring 50. is., connected.- between'onem'm otthezbelb crank'v 371 and These lever.; are pivotallyimounted'respeci rtivelyforr-'theL arms--Iaiandf 19a. flievers 26 and I" 4 a stationary holding rod and serves to apply pressure between the roller 39 and the cam 1.

Cooperating with the cam 2l is a cam follower roller 24 which is mounted on the upper end of a push-rod 40. This push-rod is carried in a cylindrical housing member 4I which in turn is sup- ;.portedbygthe' front one of the frame plates 5I.

-A coiled spring 42 acts under compression to urge the cam follower roller 24 against the periphery .of the cam 2|.

`.The ratchet plate 8 is formed integrally with a projection 43 which normally rests on a stop pin i'-44.prior toz-beinglstepped forward in a clockwise'direction. l"When, however, the plates 8 and 15? 9 havebeeny `moved two steps the projection 43 engages one'of `the contact springs 45 for closing a circuit. Suclfa. circuit may, for example, include a magnetic clutch 46, or other device to be selectively controlled. Power is supplied by. a battery 41. A switch 48 is provided for opening ..the-selecting;circuit. af ter; the; selecting .-'operation has been'completed. Of-,course theiresponsive'device 46 maybe-of. any;desired'typev and may'op- .tionally be constituted: as avbelL. axmotor.' or.. an .indicators-lier example. Furthermore;F when the ratchet plate 8 is-movedftoiitsrsecond'stepzitzmay be 4caused to` actuate` anyssort offdevicezmech'anicallyfinstead of electrically.

. The `maerating procedure The operation of ourf` selector may`-be illus` trated vby consideringTrst 'that'two code signals are successively received, one f vwhich causes the `shaft I .to beV rotated into position where thedigit "on cam'3 comes'directly under' the'finger 26h andthe-notch in the disc 5 comesdirectly'f'be- "neath'the toe piece "|8c. The operation presently to be A'desciibedfwill be'followed -by the setting ofrthe shaft I` so that' the ydigit on the disc'L 4 is alignedzwith 'thef`nger '21h at theend of llever 1 arm v21;v and the notch inthe' ldisc 6 comes direct- 4ly/beneath the'toe piece 19o. *Following Veach .setting of `the shaft I into a selecting position it '-is arrested for afsuflicient time soV that 'the selecting operation may be completed bythe rotation of fthey camshaft- 2. -After' the performance `of-each-selecting operation the shaft I -iscaused `to/be-rotated toahorning position. VVThe shaft I, therefore;=m'akes `one complete but interrupted revolution-A in responseto the reception of each code signal.

The codesignals are received on a code translating device :such as '-"shown lin ouraforementioned =cop ending :patent application, Serial Number 485,186, operating as a start-stop' device. .Ther two shafts I' and'.A 2.are` stationary untill the lselecting A.magnets of the` code r translator have been actuated. 'These shaft I'i-and" 2 are then .simultaneously i rotated; shaft I beingf given. a greater. velocity thanthatv of shaft 2 so that any selectedv position .around theA circumference of the circle may be-.reached while "shaft `2 4rotates through:'substantially 180 more or less. Shaftv 2 thenab'rings its1cams22fand 23A up tothe positions .shoWnin "Fig,u l, immediately subsequent to which the cam followers Am0un-ted"onf'the .leversN 21:' and 1' 26 are successively. lifted. f Cam 123: has-1a hump which actuates lever 21 prior" to the actuation of lever 26 by a: similar Ahump on :cam :22. If'the rstxcode .signal` to'be received is-'Suchasto-position the digit on disc 3L under ,thenger 26h, then .lever 26 willv beY fulcrumed =,atithe tip 'ofv linger-2Gb and. will cause lever I8 to be rotated on its pivot bearingu. This rotation of `lever;.l8 is .at .thistime-apermitted by the position-ing of the notch in cam 5 so that it may be entered by the toel piece I8c. The result is to move the pawl I3 to the left and to rotate the ratchet disc 8 through an arc represented by one step, or the distance between the two steps of discs 8 and 9.

After the discs 8 and 9 have been moved one step, as above described, the shafts I and 2 are returned to their homing positions where they are de-clutched from their driving motor (not shown) until after reception of `a second code selecting signal. Such a signal may, for example, result in the positioning of shaft I so that the digit on disc 4 comes directly beneath the finger 2lb. This selective setting operation is then followed by the rotation of the cam shaft 2 through positions which will cause the actuation of levers 26 and 21 for a second time. Since lever 21 operates prior to lever 26 and since it is now caused to be fulcrumed at the tip of finger 2lb, the pawl I4 will be moved to the left while engaged with the stop on disc 9, thus moving the discs 8 and 9 to their most advanced position where the extension 43 engages with the lower one of the contacts 45 and closes the cirsponse to the completed selecting operation. cuit of device 46 for providing the desired response to the completed selecting operation. The 4advancing movement of pawl I4 is immediately followed by an ineiectual release action through the rotation of lever 26 on its pivot bearing`49. This release action is ineffective because the pawl I4 has already been engaged against the step of disc 9 and has driven the two discs 8 and 9 forward so as to be held by the pawl 3|.

It should be constantly born in mind that our selector is arranged to set up conditions in any one of a plurality of receiving stations so that the subsequent transmission of intelligence signals shall be responded to at only one station. Accordingly, the selecting code signals which are to be used for making a station selection will be varied permutationally. That is to say, the digits on cams 3 and 4 will be differently disposed in angular relation to a common reference point on all of the shafts I at diiferent stations to be individually served byvtheir selectors. It is, however, within the scope of the invention to provide cams 3 and 4 and associated cams 5 and 6 so arranged that in addition to being able to respond individually at different stations to appropriate selecting signals, all stations may be simultaneously called in response to a special code signal. For enabling all stations to respond simultaneously, therefore, it is only necessary to provide two digits on each of the cams 3 and 4. The reference points of the digits which are used for individual station calling will then be as shown and described, while the reference point of the cam digits for the universal calling signal will be uniform at all stations. If desired, the two digits on cams 3 and 4 for universal calling may be given the same angular disposition with respect to the common reference point on shaft I. Due to the fact that the humps on cams 22 and 23 are disposed at an angle to each other for sequential action of the two levers 26 and 2'I it will be seen that when the digits on cams 3 and 4 are simultaneously situated under the fingers 26h and 2lb that, although pawls I3 and I4 are both moved to the left, pawl I3 only will be effective in advancing the ratchet disc 8 in response to the first code signal setting of the cam 3. Pawl I4 returns in time to act as a holding pawl against the step in ratchet disc 9. The

second step of the selecting cycle will then be completed after restoring the shaft I to its homing position. Then the digit on cam 4 is for a. second time brought around and stopped underneath the linger 2lb. At this time the pawl I4 will operate to advance the ratchet disc 9 to the end of its course where the projection 43 is brought into engagement with the under-contact 45 for closing the circuit to the device 46.

Restoration of the discs 8 and 9 to normal is accomplished at different times under varying conditions as will now be explained.V

( 1) The rst condition to be considered is where the selector has operated at unwanted stations to advance the ratchet discs 8 and 9 through one step. At these unwanted stations the discs 8 and 9 must be returned to normal at the time of a reception of the second selecting code signal. At these unwanted stations, therefore, if they have been partially selected, the rotation of lever 21 on its pivot center 49 will kick out the pawl I"4 because there is no positioning of the digit on cam 4 under the finger 2lb. The selectors at the unwanted stations having been dropped out by this operation will then be in readiness for response to a full complement of selecting code signals if any one of these stationsis subsequently required to be selected.

(2) After the ratchet discs 8 and 9 have been fully advanced by reception of two code signals which are capable of accomplishing this fulladvancement, the code discs 8 and 9 can only be restored to normal inresponse to a special code signal designated for this purpose. Such a signal is arranged to orient the shaft I so that atits point of arrest the bell crank 31 will be moved into its actuated position for driving the push rod 35 into the path of the push rod 40. The push rod 35 now stands in this position while the cam shaft 2 rotates to the point of positioning the opposing humps on cams 2I and 23 in a vertical axis. The push ro`d 49 is, therefore, depressed atthe same instant that lever 2l is caused to rotate on the pivot center 49 `and to kick out the pawl I4. Pawl 3| will be simultaneously kicked out so that the ratchet disc 8 will return half way to` the point where it will be held by pawl I3. A further rotation of the Cain shaft 2 now causes lever 26 to be actuated for kicking out pawl I3. The complete restoration of the cams 8 and 9 is, therefore, accomplished and all elements of the selector are returned to their homing positions.

It is contemplated that in certain instances selection of a station may require the transmission of three or more selecting code signals rather than only two as herein shown and described. In such case the lever mechanism including the combination of levers 26 and I8 and their associated pawls and cams will of necessity be increased in number. By arresting the shaft I in successively different positions corresponding to the digital arrangement on the cams 3, 4 and the like, the ratchet plates 8, 9 and the like may be engaged by different operating pawls,V each taking its turn in producing stepwise advancementof such ratchet plates until the extreme position of advancement is reached. This modification of our invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further illustration or description.

We claim: 1. A selector of the type which is controlled. by a telegraph receiver `responsive to oodle Signals, said selector comprising a plurality of selecting discs-.eachycarrying a projecting digitand each firmly; mounted-on ashaft the orientation `of which is selectively obtained by said telegraph receiver,v anv operatingcam shaft having a piuraltyof cams thereon, each cyclic revolution of which-is effected subsequent tothe reception of each selecting code signal, said orientable shaft beingarrested in a signal-controlled position during a partV of said cyclic revolution, a ratchet and pawl combination corresponding to each of said selecting discs, the several ratchets being rotatable as a unit, an operating lever for individually supporting each pawl, the several levers having a common pivot, a cam follower lever linked to each Vsaid pawl operating lever, means operable by an appropriate one of said cams through its camfollovver lever when the associated selecting disc is oriented into a selecting position for causing that cam follower lever to be pivoted `at the apex of the digit on that disc, whereby the associated pawl is actuated for stepwise advancement of its ratchet, and meansV responsive to a condition of orienting a selecting disc into a nonselecting `position for causing the associated ratchet to be released by its pawl.

2. A selector ofthe type which responds cyclically to the orientation of a variously settable shaft and to the driving force of a start-stop cam shaft, said selector comprising at least two ratchet discs rotatable as a unit about a xed axis and having a staggered relation between a ratchet step of one disc and that of the other, a plurality of levers each carrying a pawl for engagement with a respective one of said ratchet discs and swung on a common axis, cams mounted on said cam shaft, a cam follower lever operatively associated with each said cam and with a corresponding digit-supporting disc which is mounted on said settable shaft, each said vcam follower lever being linked to an extension arm on a respective one of said pawl carrying levers and being movable by a peripheral hump on an appropriate one Vof said cams in either of two modes depending upon the orientation of said settable shaft to arselecting or a non-selecting position, one of said modes being effective to advance a pawl so as to step forward its ratchet disc, and the other of said modes being effective to release a' pawl from its ratchet disc, and means operable by said ratchet disc unit after advancement thereof through a predeterminednumber of steps for giving effect to the completion of the operational steps of the selector.

3. A selector according to claim 2 and including means operable by a third cam on said cam shaft, butisubject to selective control by setting the orientableA shaft into a position which is reserved for a restoring operation, whereby the ratchet disc unit is unlatched and allowed to be retracted to a homing position,

4. A selector according to claim 2 and including means for unlatching the ratchet disc at the position of an intermediate step of advancement upon rotation of the cam shaft after setting the orientable shaft to a non-selecting position.

5. A system of selector unitslocated at different stations, each unit being mechanically coupled to a receiving telegraph instrument, each selector'unit comprising ratchet discs to be rotatably advanced step-by-step-in response to the reception of selecting code signals, a lever system including a plurality of pawls arranged and adapted to effect said step-by-step advancement of .theratchet discs in response to the reception levers and pawl-Vunlatching levers', each pawl- 8 of selecting signa1s,a-.settable rotor. and a; plurality of coaxially mounted cams, the -rotor and cams being vmounted on two different shafts l for actuating each selector unit, and being subject to control by said telegraph instrument, a device to be actuated by Yadvancement of the ratchet discs to a predetermined step, a pawl4 retracting system operableto disengage andrelease the partially advanced ratchet discs at all but a-selected one of said stations, a holding pawl operable to retain the ratchet discs of the unit at theselected station in its advanced position, and code signal responsive means for unlatchi'ng said holding pawl and for restoring the entire selecting unit to normal at the selected station.

6. A selector comprising a settablerotor having two digit-carrying discs and two notched discs, the orientation of a digit and a notch being `the same in one cooperating set of discs and the same in the other cooperating set, the orientationl of the two digits being predetermined with respect to a reference `meridian so as to render this selector alone among a group of selectors responsive to a giventrain of codesignals, a cyclically operable cam shaft, cams on said shaft, two cam follower levers arranged to ride the peripheries of said cams, each lever having a linger for feeling the presence or absence ofa rotor disc digit in a selected position, two xedly pivoted paw-l-r carrying levers each linked to a respective -one Vof said cam follower levers and having a pawl pivotally mounted on one extension thereof lwhile a toe piece terminating another extension thereof is arranged to ride the periphery of a respective one of said notched vdiscs and at times. to seat itself in the notch, a ratchet disc assembly subject to stepwise advancement by saidpawls when a toe piece enters a disc notch, and means for unlatchf ing a pawl during a cycle of the cam shaft when the rotor is set to a non-selecting position.. f

7. In a cam-driven ratchet-and-pawl actuator for a selector, a rotor having a .homing .position and means for variably orienting the same in different selected positions, a plurality jof disc sets on said rotor, ,each set comprising a Vdisc having a radially. extending digit and a discV havingV a notch the meridian of which is the same as thatY of said digit, the angle between two digits being predetermined in accordance with successive po.

sitions of orientation which are chosen for con- Y trol of the selector, a pivoted ratchet disc assembly `comprising a plurality of discs with stepped peripheries, and a lever system for advancing said assembly step-by-step through apredeterminedY arc, said lever system including pawl-carrying carrying lever being xedly pivoted and integrally formed with a toe-piece extension for entering the notch of one of said rotor discs respectively, each` paWl-unlatching lever having a nger for opposing the digit on one of the digit carryingl discs respectively, and also having a cam follower eX- tension and a pivotal linkage with a companionate one of the pawl carrying levers.

8. In a selector, the combination according to claim '7 and including re-set devices of two types for restoring said ratchet disc assembly to a nor-` mal position, Vone typ-e being effective through one of said unlatching levers to release the ratchet disc assembly from an intermediate step of advancement, and the other type including a holding pawl which engages the ratchet disc assemblyk only at the last step of advancement and is/junlatched therefrom in response to the setting of said rotor ,to acontrolling position for this func-f tion, and cam driven means for producing the unlatching movement of said holding pawl.

9. In a call selector, the combination of telegraph receiving means for setting a rotor to different selected stops, at least two successive settings being required to complete a selecting operation, a cyclically operable cam shaft and lever mechanism driven by cams on said shaft under control of indexing devices on said rotor for producing either a selecting response or a non-selecting response to the reception of a code signal, a ratchet member subject to stepwise advancement by pawls which are propelled by said lever mechanism, and subject to tensional retraction upon unlatching said pawls, feeler extensions on elements of said lever mechanism for engagement with said indexing devices, thereby to differentiate between selecting and non-selecting rel0 sponses of said selector, a holding pawl effective to retain the ratchet member at the extremity of its advancement, and means responsive to the reception of a code signal of sign-01T signicance, which signal is manifested by the setting of said rotor to a special stop, whereby said holding pawl is subject to an unlatching movement which is cam-propelled upon revolution of said cam shaft. 10. The combination according to claim 9 and including means under control of said rotor when set to a non-selecting stop for causing a pawl to be disengaged from a step in said ratchet 'member and for preventing the stepwise propulsion of that same pawl, whereby the ratchet member is released from an intermediate step of advancement and permitted to be retracted.

LEONHARD F. REINHOLD. JAMES A. SPENCER. 

